One of the first times I dog sat for a friend, their dog looked like it had rolled through every leaf pile and mud puddle in town. I tried at least combing its hair, but it was to no avail. 

When I tell you the fur was so matted—it was like that scene in Princess Diaries where Princess Mia’s hair broke the brush—it was pointless trying to do it on my own. 

As I tried to unearth its eyes from the fur, I realized the real value of a good dog groomer. 

So, the rest of the Top Reviews writing team and I checked out countless recommendations from pet owners. Here’s who made it onto our compiled list of the best dog groomers in the city. 

1. Regal Pets

Regal Pet Salon got on our radar because of their groomer certifications from the IPG USA and the National Dog Groomers Association of New Zealand. This tells us how committed they are to making sure your Fido looks right. 

They also have a clear pricing structure. We like that they don’t charge based on the type of groom you get but on the size of your dog and its coat condition. 

That said, the pricing isn’t that great for large dogs, like huskies and German shepherds. De-shedding these dogs can be really costly.

Despite this, many pet parents raved about feeling confident about leaving their dogs at this salon. Several people appreciated that the groomer agreed to send them photo updates to reassure them. 

All the dogs we’ve seen come back looking immaculate. Several people raved about the “regal groom” for the breed-specific cuts and the pain-free ear cleaning. The regal groom is their full groom with everything from a foot pad shave to a blowout and de-shed. 

So much to love about this salon

“Best grooming salon in Wellington! Not only do they go through with us the services available at the start of the groom with their pricing (so you are not caught unaware) but the team always does a wonderful job on our little one. Our one had itchy paws that she used to always lick every evening and it was becoming quite concerning but Kerry recommended one of the paw masks and over two sessions, the licking entirely stopped!  A very cheap and healthy solution instead of going to the vets. Highly recommend; our little one loves going because of the attentive care the staff provide but also because she always gets so many compliments from strangers afterwards! So much to love about this salon.”

• Catherine Young, Google Reviews 

Absolutely fantastic service 

“Absolutely fantastic service from Kerry and the team at Regal Pets – my 18 month old vizsla/wirehaired pointer cross Kairi had specific grooming needs (hand stripping) and the team was fantastic with her, especially with it being her first ever groom. They did such a great job with Kairi – the cost of the service was very reasonable and her coat is looking fabulous. Thank you to Kerry and the team for making her first grooming experience really special and comfortable – we will absolutely be back!”

• Lucy Paton, Google Reviews

2. Pampered Pooch

Pampered Pooch is where you take your dog to be pampered with natural products and enjoy gentle grooming. We love how they are quick with nail clipping and are very thorough with paw cleaning. 

Many pet parents with dogs that hate baths told us they loved how the groomers here are patient. They use lift-assisted tubs, which make the washing process way easier and less stressful on the dogs and groomers.

Many also liked how the groomers made gland expressions as comfortable as possible for their dogs. We like that they know the right pressure points and how to apply them correctly without causing extra pain. 

Others raved about the skillful clipping and smooth shaving. We like how these groomers can do any cut you envision for your dog—of course, it helps if you have an inspo pic. 

The only thing we weren’t too big on was the lack of toys or treats to calm down dogs with anxiety. 

One of the best groomers I have been to

“Cecilia is one of the best groomers I have been to. I have had Bichons for years she does excellent groom show quality. She is friendly and my dog loves going there highly recommend.”

• Lynn Bull, Google Reviews 

Would not let anyone else groom our dog

“We’ve been using Cecelia for over 14 years & would not let anyone else groom our dog.”

• Rob Arlow, Google Reviews

3. Barking Mad Barbers

We like that Barking Mad Brothers is a stress-free, relaxing home salon, making it easy for dogs with anxiety to get groomed. The less noise and subtle movements created a calm and less chaotic atmosphere.  

We love how these groomers make use of different tools when de-shedding large breeds. They use a de-shedding tool, slicker brushes, and even undercoat rakes to get rid of any unwanted matted and dead hair.

We also have to praise the salon’s communication. We like how the groomers promptly text you and alert you when your fur baby is ready to be picked up. 

We also like that they listen to grooming requests. Several pet parents requested teddy bear cuts, whisker trims, and more. 

That said, scheduling appointments with them isn’t always easy because their slots get filled up quickly.

Always been very please with the service

“Always been very please with the service, puppies Always come away smelling good and looking great. Cheers Peter.”

• Karl Hobman, Google Reviews

Looks absolutely awesome after being groomed

“Peter is fantastic, does a brilliant job,  the beastie looks absolutely awesome after being groomed.   Highly recommend Peter as he makes a huge fuss of the beastie.   Thanks Peter.”

• Johannas Broodkorn, Google Reviews

4. The Pet Spa Berhampore

We love that The PetSpa’s groomers focus on prioritizing your dog’s well-being because of their understanding of dog behaviour and psychology. Their approach is refreshing!

We like that they are all about creating a stress-free environment. We like that the groomers calmly speak to the dogs to ease their nerves. Many pet parents shared stories of their anxious fur babies being calmed by these patient groomers. 

We also appreciate how flexible their services are. For example, the full groom covers all the essentials, including ear cleaning and full body clipping. 

Meanwhile, the hygiene/puppy groom is a good option for young dogs or those needing a quick tidy-up.

They also offer valuable add-ons, such as nail grinding, nose and paw pad balm, and teeth brushing. We especially liked the option of choosing a sensitive skin shampoo—perfect for pups who suffer from itchy skin. 

However, the extra services do add up, and the appointment times can be a bit inflexible. 

The staff are welcoming, friendly, knowledgable and super efficient

“The Pet Spa Berhampore is fantastic! The staff are welcoming, friendly, knowledgable and super efficient. We have been sending our dog here since she was a puppy. Never any issues, she remains calm and the team do a fabulous job. I highly recommend you try them!”

• Jeremy Gapes, Google Reviews

Harry listened to what we wanted and the groom was perfect!  

“Fantastic service – totally recommend.  We had a very long-haired dog, Harry listened to what we wanted and the groom was perfect!  Summer cut that didn’t make our dog into a soft toy.”

• Amanda Bulmam, Google Reviews

5. Mana Dog Grooming Ltd

We love that Mana Dog Grooming is a home-based salon focusing specifically on Japanese/Asian fusion styles for your fur babies. 

The caveat is that because it is a home salon, it only accepts a few dogs at a time. That said, all the dogs it grooms look fantastic. 

We’ve seen them groom several Shiba-inus and Akita dogs, and each one looks like it belongs on the doggy model runway. 

Speaking of grooming, we like that they have all sorts of options, from basic full grooms to puppy introduction grooms. 

Several pet parents loved their puppy intro grooms because they ensured their pup was happy and not traumatized by the grooming experience. 

Very friendly and accommodating

“Masako has been great! She is very passionate with her craft and put the welfare of the dogs in highest regard. She communicates very well on anything concerning our dog and really gives good advise. Very friendly and accommodating. Highly recommended. Thank you Masako. Yuki loves staying at your place. Yuki just loves the pampering you are giving her. :)”

• Michael Encarnado, Google Reviews

Masako is so caring and kind 

“I have been taking my sheltie to Masako at Mana Dog Grooming for over a year and the service she provides is always top quality, with great communication on how the appointment is going. She has plenty of knowledge on how to care for dogs with a long coat. Masako is so caring and kind and I know she takes the very best care of my pup. She will always accommodate my requests and give me great advice on how to maintain my dog’s coat in-between appointments. I highly recommend Mana Dog Grooming.”

• Arielle Yow, Google Reviews

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